Huge outreach effort to reduce homelessness kicks off downtown

As part of the "Connect, Support, House" strategy to reduce homelessness, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer kicked off a daylong effort Thursday to connect homeless individuals living in downtown's East Vil...

Author:
Amanda Shotsky, Reporter

Published:
5:19 AM PDT August 16, 2018

Updated:
5:19 AM PDT August 16, 2018

SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - As part of the "Connect, Support, House" strategy to reduce homelessness, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer kicked off a daylong effort Thursday to connect homeless individuals living in downtown's East Village neighborhood with the supportive services they need to get their lives back on track.

The Tailgate parking lot will serve as a hub where homeless service providers will be available to assist individuals with medical issues, missing government identification, applying for benefits, etc. In addition, experts will be available to help identify housing opportunities and available shelter beds.

Outreach teams, consisting of about four professionals and one police officer, will then fan out across East Village to greet homeless individuals on the street and inform them of the services available to them right now. Those who accept help will be brought back to the Tailgate lot and service providers will attend to their needs.

Thursday's outreach effort is being coordinated by the San Diego Police Department's new Neighborhood Policing Division. It is one of a string of similar events put on by SDPD that complements the work the Neighborhood Policing Division does in collaboration with homeless outreach workers to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with services and opportunities in lieu of immediate enforcement actions.

StorageCenter (Spring 2018) – New facility at 20th and Commercial streets for homeless individuals to safely store their belongings while they access services, attend school, interview for a job or go to work.

Housing Navigation Center (Ahead of Schedule; Opening 2018) – The region’s first comprehensive homeless facility at 14th Street and Imperial Avenue will be the anchor to San Diego’s care network and the starting point for individuals to access a variety of services all under one roof.

HOUSE: Creating more opportunities to end the cycle of homelessness through permanent housing.

Landlord Partnerships – The successful Housing Our Heroes program, which has helped over 1,000 homeless veterans find housing through partnerships with local landlords, has been expanded to all homelessness men and women with enough funding to house 3,000 individuals.